Federation Council gives consent to use the Russian Armed Forces outside of the Russian Federation

During its 518^th sitting, the Federation Council gave its consent to use the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation outside of the territory of the Russian Federation.

The upper chamber of parliament received a corresponding request from the President of the Russian Federation, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko Matvienko
Valentina Representative of the executive authority of the city of St Petersburg said.

Deputy Defence Minister of the Russian Federation – Head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel General Nikolai Pankov read out the request of the head of state.

In keeping with the Federation Council Rules of Procedure, the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security, and the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs held a joint meeting to review the request submitted by the President of the Russian Federation, and the Council of the Chamber also met for this purpose.

The chairs of the three committees, Andrei Klishas, Viktor Bondarev and Grigory Karasin, were the rapporteurs on the item.

Andrei Klishas said that the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Lugansk People’s Republic were ratified on 22 February 2022, signed by the President of the Russian Federation and came into force. “These treaties provide for the protection of the rights of citizens living on the DPR and LPR territory, establishing a legal framework for the presence of the Russian military on these territories as may be necessary to maintain peace in the region. Therefore, the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, together with the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security and the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs decided to recommend that the Federation Council grant its consent to the President of the Russian Federation to use the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation outside of the territory of the Russian Federation based on the universally recognised principles and norms of international law.”

Taking the floor, Viktor Bondarev reminded the senators that under the ratified treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, either side may grant the other the right to have its armed forces build, use and improve military infrastructure and military bases on its territory for the sake of security of the state parties.

Adopting the resolution is a logical step for protecting the people, as well as safeguarding the interests of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, Grigory Karasin pointed out.

Deputy speakers of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev and Yury Vorobyov delivered their remarks during the discussion.

Konstantin Kosachev pointed out that by taking this decision the senators seek to avert a full-scale war. “It enables the President of the Russian Federation to ultimately take all the necessary steps to ensure peace in the region.”

Yury Vorobyov said that he was confident this step would be enough to stop the war in Donbass.

“The Federation Council’s decision is designed to establish peace and stop the bloodshed and the shelling of civilians. This will contribute to bringing life back to normal and ensure their safety,” Valentina Matvienko summed up the discussion.

The senators unanimously supported the adoption of a resolution to this effect.